Vanuatu's government says it doesn't plan to seek an explanation from its Foreign Minister Sato Kilman over alleged comments he made during his recent trip to Indonesia.
The Prime Minister's advisor, George Bogiri, says the Vanuatu government's stance of support for Papuan independence hasn't changed despite Indonesian media reports indicating otherwise.
Indonesian media quoted Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda as saying Mr Kilman has pledged his country's support for a unitary Indonesian state.
Mr Kilman was reported to have said that although a number of Papuan activists live in his country, Vanuatu doesn't support any separatist activities or Papua independence group.
But Mr Bogiri says he believes the Indonesian government has misled the media over the comments.
"I don't believe that the Minister for Foreign Affairs said something contrary to Vanuatu's foreign policy on West Papua and Indonesia. It's always possible for them to turn the media against Vanuatu. They can always mislead the media to win one or two credit points."
George Bogiri says the matter is not a big issue for the government which will continue to push for Papuan independence,
